grue n. from archaic english verb for `shudder', as with fear the
   grue was originated in the game zork dave lebling took the name from
   jack vance's "dying earth" fantasies and used in several other
   infocom games as a hint that you should perhaps look for a lamp, torch
   or some type of light source. wandering into a dark area would cause the
   game to prompt you, "it is very dark. if you continue you are likely to
   be eaten by a grue." if you failed to locate a light source within the
   next couple of moves this would indeed be the case.

   the grue, according to scholars of the great underground empire, is a
   sinister, lurking presence in the dark places of the earth. its favorite
   diet is either adventurers or enchanters, but its insatiable appetite is
   tempered by its extreme fear of light. no grues have ever been seen by
   the light of day, and only a few have been observed in their underground
   lairs. of those who have seen grues, few have survived their fearsome
   jaws to tell the tale. grues have sharp claws and fangs, and an
   uncontrollable tendency to slaver and gurgle. they are certainly the
   most evil-tempered of all creatures; to say they are touchy is a
   dangerous understatement. "sour as a grue" is a common expression, even
   among grues themselves.

   all this folklore is widely known among hackers.


see also:
zork infocom